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Meals Club is for anyone in need ACCESS says it�s a nutrition project By John Darling MEDFORD � A new Meals Club offered by ACCESS is home-delivering $3.75 dinners, not just to the poor, elderly or disabled, but to anyone who needs them. The Meals Club is targeted for area residents who may not qualify for other meals programs such as Food and Friends (formerly Loaves and Fishes), said ACCESS Nutrition Program director Carlus Harris. "With the Meals Club, we�re trying to be the nutrition lifeline for folks who may be underprivileged and who have a need for food that�s not being met," Harris said. The club also was set up to serve people who get noon meals from other programs, but have an unmet need for second meals in the evening, he said. Users of the Meals Club might also include people who are emotionally stressed from normal life situations, such as death of a partner, divorce or child-rearing, he said. "A good example is my neighbor, whose wife just died. He�s not incapacitated but he�s emotionally incapacitated and the last thing he wants to do is cook." The meal price only covers costs � food, labor, transportation and other overhead. All proceeds go back into the program, he said, however, ACCESS may tap clients for donations during delivery and fund drives. They are also seeking grants to support it. "We hope the people who are more fortunate can help those who are low-income, elderly or disabled, who may need help getting proper nutrition." Dinner meals include an entr�e, starch item, vegetable or fruit, bread and dessert. The January menu includes such items as enchiladas, scalloped potatoes with ham, braised beef tips, meat loaf with gravy or beef rigatoni. ACCESS served food for the elderly for 20 years through Loaves and Fishes. That program is now operated by Rogue Valley Council of Governments as Food and Friends, with ACCESS preparing the food under contract. The Older Americans Act finances both programs, which allows RVCOG to offer them free, with donation optional. Ashland�s Meals on Wheels delivers evening day meals to the elderly for $3.50 or, for those who meet federal guidelines, $2.25, said its president George Fleming. Free meals are available for the elderly poor. Managers of area takeout restaurants expressed little concern about competition from the Meals Club. "It�s a great idea, absolutely," said David Gianotti, manager of Ashland�s Great American Pizza, which also delivers meals. "We�re not too concerned about competition," said Billy Harto, manager of Medford�s Asian Grill. "We�re serving a very different market than they do." ACCESS, said Harris, is "no threat whatsoever" to the takeout or commercial home-delivered meals. "Most home-delivered food is aimed at kids, who like pizza. Our market niche is the poor, disabled and elderly under 60 who need help getting meals." There is no fee to join the Meals Club. Meals should be reserved at least 24 hours in advance and they arrive in a refrigerated truck (donated by Boise-Cascade). Meals are chilled or frozen for the client to re-heat. Meals Club food is prepared by a dietitian, Harris said, and is offered in regular, low-salt and diabetic form. They can serve individuals or cater groups, picnics or parties. For more information, e-mail [email protected] or call 774-4308. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.